Monday, November 30, 2015

Celebrate Giving Tuesday with The Rose

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that everyone is invited to participate in. Today, we're asking our community to support The Rose in any way you can. Here are a few ways you can join in on #GivingTuesday:


Every donation to The Rose helps provide women with access to quality breast health care. A donation of $150 helps to sponsor a mammogram for one woman in need. Donate here.



Have you heard George’s story of how a $1 donation traveled 800 miles to The Rose? Read it here.


Every 3 insured women who have a mammogram at The Rose help provide 1 uninsured woman with a mammogram. We encourage you to schedule your annual appointment with us and invite two of your friends to do the same. Request an appointment.

3. Spread the Word

We ask that you spread the word about The Rose to your friends and family. You can ask your friends to donate or schedule their mammogram with us, or you can share information about the importance of annual screenings and early detection.

Studies show women often put personal needs on hold while tending to the needs of others. Many women cite cost and lack of access as reasons they delay preventive services. Yet, early detection mammography screenings are the most powerful weapons in the fight against breast cancer - which is 98% curable when detected early.



The Power Of A Dollar

George was delivering a new replacement mammography van for our Mobile Unit 1, driving from Phoenix, Arizona to Houston. Our logo and the van’s bright pink color sparkled in the sunshine and could be seen for miles. About 20 miles outside of El Paso, he stopped at a service station. While waiting for the tank to fill, a very beat-up pick-up truck pulled up beside him. The driver reached out of his window and pushed a waded, partly torn dollar bill into George’s hand. In broken English he said, “For The Rose!” George, stunned, tried to explain that he was just a driver and that he didn’t actually work for The Rose. The man continued to talk and finally George understood: The Rose had cared for his mother. At the man’s insistence that The Rose needed this $1 bill, George accepted the crumpled bill and sat it on the dashboard. After an 800 mile trip, he arrived safely at The Rose with the dollar bill and a touching story to share.


The Infinity of Giving

At The Rose, we reduce deaths from breast cancer by providing access to screening, diagnostics, and treatment services to any woman regardless of her ability to pay. Women often find The Rose during a time of need in their life and because of the treatment they receive through us, are able to go on to make a better life for themselves, cancer-free.  Family members and friends of these women and others, also feel the care The Rose provides to their loved one.

Many times, the same men and women who are touched by The Rose during their time of need make a special effort to give back to The Rose. Some events from friends and family that have become special contributors to The Rose include 30 for Ana and Jump for The Rose.

Other times, friends and family remember the warmth that The Rose gave to their family and give what they can, even if it’s $1. Each contribution, no matter the size, is valued by The Rose. With each dollar, we can provide more women with access to quality breast health care.



Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Rose Pink Friday Gift Guide

When we hear a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, our first reaction is to ask how we can help. This Thanksgiving season, we’ve put together a gift guide just in time for Black Friday that will make your loved one’s treatment just a little easier to bear. Make this Black Friday a Pink Friday and shop for good.


          1. Kindle complete with The Women of The Rose

The Women of The Rose, written by Dorothy Gibbons, shares the stories of tenacity, strength, and how The Rose began with a mission to serve all women, including the uninsured.

A Kindle makes a great gift for your loved one during treatment as the E-reader is lightweight and can hold thousands of books. Find out more about The Women of The Rose and Amazon Kindles.

           2. A New Journal

Going through breast cancer treatment is like nothing else. Gift your loved one with a journal in which she can write her thoughts, memories, prayers, and stories. To get her started, have members of your family begin her journal by writing encouraging messages.

           3. A Warm Blanket
Staying warm during chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be tricky. Find a warm, soft, lightweight blanket that can be wrapped around your loved one during treatment. A larger blanket is better so that nurses can tuck and wrap the blanket around treatment areas.

           4. A Hat
Heat can easily escape the body through the scalp. Look for a soft knit hat to keep your loved one comfortable during treatment.
  
          5. Lip balm, hand cream, and sanitizer



During treatment, skin becomes drier and more fragile than your loved one has likely ever experienced. Keeping skin healthy during treatment becomes important for the immune system. Dry, sensitive skin is prone to eczema, itching, and sores that can easily become infected. We suggest a hydrating skin care routine that includes gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and sanitizers. Giving a hydrating skin routine gift basket will make your loved one more comfortable and help prevent infection during treatment. 

On behalf of our team at The Rose, we wish you and your loved ones a very warm, happy Thanksgiving. 


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Celebrating Veterans Day at The Rose

As some of our patients know, The Rose is the exclusive provider of breast health services to the VA for our area in Southeast Texas. We are proud to have served our veterans exclusively since 1999 and our mobile fleet visits VA locations in Katy, Tomball, Houston, Lufkin, Beaumont and Texas City.

Today, as we honor our veterans, we'd like to celebrate the brave men and women who have gone on to become our patients after their return home. In the last two years, we have cared for 3,252 veteran patients and of those:

  • 2,986 are female
  • 266 are male
  • 28 have been diagnosed with breast cancer
  • 1 male veteran was diagnosed
  • The youngest veteran diagnosed was 40 years old

We would also like to say a special thank you to our two veterans on staff at The Rose, Cathie Sublett and Tisha Diaz, as well as one of our radiologists, Dr. Parsons. Thank you for your service to our country and to our community at The Rose.



What our veterans said about The Rose: 
  • "This was an unexpected delight to find The Rose in partnership with the VA."
  • "Great girls doing this. Thanks for coming to the Texas City VA."
  • "Thank you, VA, for looking out for women veterans. This was very convenient."
  • "The customer service was excellent on both sides – the VA as well as The Rose. One of the best techs ever. She is a star to The Rose."